Local donors give $300,000 to Israel cancer research

TORONTO — Longtime Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) donors Carole and Howard Tanenbaum have pledged $300,000 to the organization over 10 years.

The funds come from the Howard and Carole Tanenbaum Family Charitable Foundation and will enable ICRF to award Carole Tanenbaum Woman of Action Business Award each year at its Woman of Action luncheon.

The luncheon, to be held on April 9 at the Royal York Hotel, recognizes the outstanding achievements of women in business, philanthropy and science.

Carole Tanenbaum, creator of Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection, was the honoree in 2007.

“Howard and I are longtime supporters of [ICRF}. This fund enables Israeli scientists to research and discover new ways of detecting and curing cancer,” she said.

“As a past honoree it is gratifying to continue to award outstanding women in business for their accomplishments and success. It is my hope that the [award] inspires all women to pursue their goals and follow their dreams.”

Money raised through the annual Women of Action luncheon goes to support a number of outstanding ICRF scientists in Israel. Each year, three or four scientists are selected as recipients of the ICRF Woman of Action grants

ICRF executive director Joy Wagner Arbus said that the donation, part of the ICRF’s major gifts initiative, can help increase cancer research.

“It is very meaningful because Carole is a past honoree, and the foundation believes in helping small charities because it catapults what [the charities] are able to do.”

ICRF’s scientific research has resulted in the development of such drugs as Gleevec, used in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, and Velcade, a drug developed based on Nobel Prize winning research by ICRF-funded scientists used in the treatment of multiple myeloma.